Flying focus and its application to plasma-based laser amplifiers

Turnbull, D.; Bahk, S-W; Begishev, I. A.; Boni, R.; Bromage, J.; Bucht, S.; Davies, A.; Franke, P.; Haberberger, D.; Katz, J.; Kessler, T. J.; Milder, A. L.; Palastro, J. P.; Shaw, J. L.; Froula, D. H.

doi:10.1088/1361-6587/aada63

Title: Flying focus and its application to plasma-based laser amplifiers

Journal Article · Wed Nov 21 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6587/aada63· OSTI ID:1489984

^[1]; Bahk, S-W ^[1]; Begishev, I. A. ^[1]; Boni, R. ^[1]; Bromage, J. ^[1]; Bucht, S. ^[1]; Davies, A. ^[1]; Franke, P. ^[1]; Haberberger, D. ^[1]; Katz, J. ^[1]; Kessler, T. J. ^[1]; Milder, A. L. ^[1]; Palastro, J. P. ^[1];

^[1]; Froula, D. H. ^[1]

Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics

Combining a chirped laser pulse with a chromatic lens yields a flying focus—a laser focus that moves dynamically in time. This provides control over the propagation of the peak laser intensity within an extended focal region that can be many times larger than the system’s Rayleigh length. Any velocity is achievable, including backward relative to the laser propagation direction. Previous simulation results have shown that a laser beam with a flying focus can create a counter-propagating ionization wave and subsequently pump a frequency-downshifted laser via the stimulated Raman scattering instability. Compared to a conventional Raman amplification scheme, several advantages were highlighted, including improved temperature control, plasma uniformity, and precursor growth mitigation. Here, we extend those results to demonstrate additional benefits: (1) the flying focus makes it possible for an unseeded Raman amplifier to produce a short, high-intensity beam; and (2) the flying focus minimizes collisional absorption of the pump, facilitating amplifier operation at higher plasma densities. Preliminary experiments have laid the groundwork for a high-performance plasma-based laser amplifier. The focal spot dynamics were initially confirmed at low intensity. It was subsequently demonstrated that ionization waves of arbitrary velocity can be produced at higher intensity. Here, we show a counter-propagating ionization front moving at approximately the speed of light—the optimal result for a Raman amplifier.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0001944

OSTI ID:: 1489984

Report Number(s):: 2018-15, 1454; 2018-15, 1454, 2411

Journal Information:: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, Vol. 61, Issue 1; ISSN 0741-3335

Publisher:: IOP ScienceCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 8 works

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References (33)

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Cited By (2)

Flying focus: Spatial and temporal control of intensity for laser-based applications Froula, D. H.; Palastro, J. P.; Turnbull, D. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 26, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5086308	journal	March 2019
Laser frequency upconversion in plasmas with finite ionization rates Qu, Kenan; Fisch, Nathaniel J. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 26, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5110292	journal	August 2019

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